SA pair jailed over fatal Adelaide crash

Lyle Leonard Morrison has been jailed for seven years and seven months over a fatal hit-and-run

A stolen car was like a "giant, deadly bullet" when the teenage hoon at the wheel sped through a red light and slammed into another vehicle, killing an innocent mother of two, a court has heard.

Lyle Morrison, 19, had been driving the stolen Pajero up to 134 km/h when it hit the car of Lucy Paveley in Adelaide's north in August last year.

Morrison fled the scene but eventually pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and a string of other offences, with District Court Judge Liesl Chapman jailing him on Friday for at least seven years and seven months.

A 16-year-old boy driving a second stolen car and racing with Morrison before the crash pleaded guilty to similar offences.

He was jailed for at least five years.

Both Morrison and the youth were disqualified from driving for 20 years upon their release from jail.

Judge Chapman described Morrison's conduct as appalling and highly reckless.

"It was nothing less than shocking, shameful and disgraceful," she said.

The judge said Morrison had ample time to stop before entering the intersection.

"Instead you ran that red light in total and complete disregard of other road users.

"There is no evidence of any braking on your part, no reduction in speed nor any form of evasive action.

"I've seen the CCTV footage. It's horrendous.

"Your car was like a giant, speeding, deadly bullet."

Ms Paveley, 40, who had two young children, had been driving home after working an overnight shift as an aged care nurse at the time of the crash.

Judge Chapman said it was impossible to fully appreciate the impact of her death on her family.

She said her husband Jamie had made an important point during sentencing submissions that both Morrison and his co-offender could have chosen not to engage in criminal conduct.

"He said this was no crime committed by someone who was hungry or who wanted to steal food for themselves or their children, this was for kicks," Judge Chapman said.

The judge jailed Morrison for nine years and six months with the non-parole period of seven years and seven months.

The youth was jailed for seven years and six months with the non-parole period of five years.